JBT 391 Citrus Extractor Financing

Citrus throughput is what the JBT 391 is built to maximize. John Bean Technologies designed this extractor for commercial juice producers who need to process large volumes of oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes at consistent extraction rates and without the manual handling that slows down smaller operations. The 391 is part of JBT's established line of in-line citrus extractors, machines that have been deployed in juice plants and food processing facilities around the world, and they are recognized in the equipment finance space as serious, long-service-life production assets.

For a juice manufacturer or co-packer scaling citrus production, the 391 is a meaningful capital commitment. Financing these machines through our program starts at $50,000, and most 391 deals sit in a range appropriate for application-only processing at well-qualified ticket sizes. We work with buyers at every stage: established producers expanding capacity, newer brands building out their first real production line, and operations refinancing existing JBT equipment they already own. The JBT brand is well understood by lenders who cover food processing and beverage manufacturing, which makes the underwriting conversation straightforward.

The 391 Extraction System and Its Production Role

The JBT 391 operates on the in-line extraction principle that JBT pioneered for commercial citrus processing. Fruit is fed into the machine, and dual extraction cups press each fruit simultaneously, separating juice from peel and pith in a single step. The design minimizes oil contamination from the peel (a key quality concern in citrus juice production) and delivers consistent extraction rates across different fruit sizes, which matters when your input supply varies by season or sourcing region.

The 391 is positioned within JBT's extractor lineup as a mid-to-high-throughput commercial unit, suited for producers who are beyond juice bar scale but not running the very largest plant-level volumes that JBT's highest-capacity machines serve. Typical applications include regional juice brands operating their own production facility, beverage co-packers running citrus juice as part of a broader contract manufacturing operation, and food manufacturers who use freshly extracted citrus juice as an ingredient in their product line.

From a maintenance and parts standpoint, JBT has a broad service network and the 391 uses parts that are available through that network. Long-term parts availability is a point that lenders in the food processing equipment space pay attention to, and JBT's position as a major global food technology company supports confidence on that dimension. The machine's service life in commercial production environments is substantial when properly maintained, which also supports strong collateral valuation.

Operators who are building out a complete juice line often pair the 391 with downstream equipment, including a Pasteurizer or bottle filling machine, and we can finance those assets together in a bundled package if that fits the structure of the project.

Operations That Choose the 391

The JBT 391 buyer is almost always someone who has moved past the point where a smaller commercial extractor or a multi-unit bar configuration can meet their production demands. This is a machine for people who are filling bottles at meaningful volume, not pressing juice one batch at a time. The 391 shows up most often in a few specific contexts.

Regional citrus juice brands that sell through grocery and specialty retail channels need production capacity that matches retail velocity, and the 391 is sized for that mid-tier production reality. A brand placing product in a regional grocery chain needs to be able to run enough volume on a consistent schedule to keep shelves stocked, and the 391 is built for that kind of scheduled production run.

Co-packing operations that serve multiple beverage clients benefit from the 391's ability to run back-to-back citrus runs for different clients. The machine's extraction consistency across fruit types means a co-packer can move between orange, grapefruit, and lemon production without major reconfiguration, which is a practical advantage when your client list spans multiple SKUs. Beverage manufacturers adding a fresh-squeezed citrus line to an existing product portfolio are also strong candidates.

We have also financed 391 units for hotel and resort groups with high-volume food and beverage programs, where the operational demand for fresh citrus juice across restaurant, bar, and room service functions justifies production-grade equipment rather than multiple countertop units.

How Fast We Can Move on a 391 Deal

JBT equipment is well-recognized in the food production financing space, and that recognition accelerates the lender side of the underwriting. For an established business with clean bank statements and a clear picture of how the 391 fits into their production plan, we can typically present rate options within one to two business days of receiving a complete application.

For deals that come in under the application-only threshold, the documentation ask is minimal: a one-page business application and personal credit authorization. For larger transactions that include ancillary equipment, a site build-out, or installation costs, three months of bank statements and a brief summary of the operation helps us present a complete picture to lenders.

Funding timelines after approval typically run one to two weeks, which aligns with most equipment purchase timelines. If you are working with a dealer who has a 391 in inventory or you are ordering through JBT's distribution network, our funding timeline is generally not the bottleneck. We make the commitment in writing so you can move forward with the purchase while final funding is being completed.

For buyers with solid profiles who want to preserve cash at closing, application-only financing is often the cleanest path on a deal in this price range. No tax returns, no financial statements, just a simple application and a fast decision.

Already Own a JBT 391? Here Are Your Options

Operators who own a JBT 391 outright have real options to leverage that asset. A sale-leaseback converts the machine's equity to working capital: you sell the equipment to a financing company and immediately lease it back, continuing to run your production on the same schedule. The cash proceeds can fund produce purchasing, additional staffing, a new SKU build-out, or any other operational need.

If you financed the 391 originally and still carry a balance at a rate that no longer reflects current conditions or your improved credit profile, a refinance is worth running through our program. We evaluate the remaining balance, the machine's current market value, and your business profile to structure a replacement note. See our equipment refinancing page for how that process works in practice.

For operations that own multiple JBT units, a fleet-level refinance or a combined sale-leaseback across several machines is also possible. That structure can release meaningful capital from assets that are fully productive but sitting on the balance sheet without contributing to liquidity.

Get Started on JBT 391 Financing

Send us your application and we will come back with rate options in one to two business days. The 391 is a significant production investment; let us help you structure financing that fits your production schedule and cash flow reality.

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